If it Were Your Money?

[greens]

I have a 70S that I purchased as a basket case 4 months ago. Original motor, tranny. Just got the car back from the stripper and found that the car has good floors, original front pan, solid fenders, one door rusted, solid torsion tube and suspension supports. Needs work on the rear fenders/latchplate area but normal stuff in the NE. BUT it also has had the roof replaced and not to the highest standard; some of the clearances are off on one side of the car by a quarter inch or so. I don't think it has been rolled as the rear fenders aren't new and aren't bent. It looks more like the injury was something dropped on it. Chassis seems straight with no kinks in the inner panels. You know what the money is to restore from here and I planned spending that anyways (stupid economics vs buying one done perhaps but what the heck its a hobby) The question for all of you is "what would you do if it were your money?" Fix or abort?

[Bummler]

How much have you got in it so far?

[pwd72s]

I'd abort...but old cars can be like old boats. Some people enjoy standing in cold showers while tearing up C notes. So, to each his own. (edit) Really, this is a numbers crunching exercise. Calculate cost to place this car in the condition you'd enjoy driving it in. Then guestimate how much to buy a '70 S already in the condition you'd enjoy driving it in. Factor in the "fun" of the restoration. Oh...and when you've calculated the cost of the restoration? Double it to arrive at a realistic figure.

[scooter]

I would say fix. It is a 70S!

I see tops being thrown away as well as other body parts when I go over to EASY. Maybe they are not the ones that are salvageable but I would think a normal non sunroof top would be very affordable. It would then depend on the amount for the labor.

Their is the thought of what has been mentioned on this list recently........vin and body switching. But that is not the route I would want to take especially if you think the body is not tweaked and that some PO did not have the top welded on correctly.

I would add up the numbers and see where you would sit if you fixed it.

Good luck with your project,
Scooter

[VIper Green E]

I just had an estimate to do my 72s to just under concourse. ( not taking apart the whole car, just cosmetics.) It is Allot of $$$ If I pull the trigger it will cost me $50-$60K. That should cover it. My car is a good driver with no rust, needs complete interior, paint. Mechanics are all fresh and ready to go. You better ad about $10k for the rust and the roof.

this is if you want it done right. There are allot of shops that will do it for less $ but do they really know how to re-assemble a 911 properly???

I would sell the thing and buy a good driver or step up and pay $65-$80k for a good original or restored example.

Hope that helps.

Joe

[Paul Schooley]

A competent body man should be able to reinstall a top correctly. Go for it if budget allows and please post photos of it all.

[tfiv]

For what it's worth, I'd much rather have a car with a roof welded on it, than one that had been clipped front or rear (which you see all the time). The roof could be fixed, and once the headliner is in all the nasty stuff would be covered.

[greens]

Thanks for good advice so far. It is a lot like my own thoughts. Brain says one thing but the heart says another. Who said this was fun?

[Tom F.]

If you need work in the latch panel, there's a pretty good chance that you need sills and rockers, too. Maybe you should check these (cut out the rusted area of the latch panel) before making a decision on the roof. You have some good resources in CT for this kind of project.

If this car has all, or nearly all, of its original trim and mechanical components, a serious effort to restore it would probably be worthwhile.